Longitudinal rigging

Backstay: Stays the top of the mast against movement for-wards. The backstay tension is adjusted using some form of tensioning device to control mast-bend and forestay tension. Forestay: Sail-carrying stay for the genoa and jib. Prevents the top of the mast moving aft. The tension of the forestay is affected by the backstay, cap shrouds (on rigs with swept spreaders), runners and the sheeting of the mainsail. Cutter stay: Inner forestay: Sail-carrying inner stay for jib or staysail. On a masthead rig, if it can be attached within 6% of the fore-triangle height below the forestay fitting, it can be tensioned by the backstay. If it is attached lower down, runners or possibly forward-angled jumpers must be used. Attached about 60% of the fore-triangle height above the deck. This stay does not carry a sail, but is intended only to stay the mid-section of the mast fore-and- aft, in conjunction with checkstays. Baby stay: Attached in the region of the lower spreaders. The stay is not sail-carrying, but is intended to stay the lower panel of the mast fore-and-aft, in conjunction with aft lower shrouds. Runners: Also known as ”running backstays”. On a mast-head rig, runners interact with a cutter stay. They are more commonly found on fractional rigs, where they are used to tension the forestay. Runners consist of two wires attached to the sides of the mast. The runners are adjusted using tack- les at their lower ends. The windward runner is always under tension. The leeward runner is always slack, otherwise it would interfere with the mainsail and boom. Runners fitted close to the yacht’s midships line only affect the fore-and-aft staying of a mast with in-line spreaders. If they are fitted to the yacht’s quarters they also affect the lateral rigging.
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